The Plowright Prize
The £100,000 Plowright Prize, awarded every two years, recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to control, management or eradication of infectious diseases of animals.
The Plowright Prize is now open for nominations. If you would like to nominate an individual to receive the prize, please see the documents below. All nominations must be received by 31st January 2026.
- Guidelines for the Plowright Prize for nominators and nominees
- Plowright Prize nomination form for 2025/2026
- Terms and conditions for the Plowright Prize
Prize background
Walter Plowright was widely regarded as one of the world’s most eminent veterinary virologists and authorities on rinderpest. His work to develop a tissue culture vaccine represented a key milestone in efforts to control the disease – one of only two infectious diseases that have been fully eradicated. The prize is made possible thanks to a generous gift to RCVS Knowledge with the aim of recognising excellence and stimulating further research and support for the development of expertise in infectious diseases of animals.
The prize recognises an individual whose work has had a significant impact on the control, management or eradication of infectious diseases of animals. Their contribution will demonstrate animal, humanitarian or economic benefit.
The prize is open to any veterinary surgeon, veterinary nurse or research scientist working in Europe or the Commonwealth. The nominee may be working in practice, academia, a research institute/organisation, industry, government or another relevant sector. Institutions and/or organisations are not eligible to be nominated.
Making a nomination
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Plowright Prize you must:
- Be able to clearly demonstrate how your work in the area of infectious diseases of animals has benefited animals, people, or society.
- Have published at least five articles in the field of infectious diseases of animals.
- Be currently working to increase knowledge or improve the control of infectious diseases of animals.
- Have carried out work that inspires and stimulates further research and improvement in the field of infectious diseases of animals.
What we are looking for
A veterinary surgeon, veterinary nurse or research scientist at any stage of their career whose work demonstrates a contribution towards the control, management or eradication of infectious diseases of animals.
The nominee’s future plans for the Prize money must provide evidence of how their work will increase or improve knowledge within the field of infectious diseases of animals as well as inspire the next generation of veterinary professionals and scientists to undertake vital research into infectious diseases of animals.
Who can be nominated
- veterinary surgeons
- veterinary nurses
- research scientists working in Europe or the Commonwealth.
Who can make a nomination
Nominators must be willing to provide a statement of recommendation explaining why the nominee is deserving of the Plowright Prize.
Nominations are welcomed from:
- veterinary practices
- heads of university departments or faculties
- directors of research institutes and fellows of the Royal Society
- members of other European academies of sciences, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the Society of General Microbiology.
Selection criteria
The winner will be selected by an expert judging panel, which includes representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Pirbright Institute, the Royal Society, the Microbiology Society and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
The judging panel decides the winner of the Plowright Prize based on the following criteria:
- If the nominee’s previous work demonstrates involvement in a field related to the control and eradication of infectious diseases of animals.
- If the nominee has contributed towards the development of expertise within infectious diseases in the veterinary field.
- Whether the nominee’s published work demonstrates their impact on the control and eradication of infectious diseases of animals.
- If the proposed future research plan is likely to increase or improve knowledge within the field of infectious diseases of animals.
Previous winners
Professor Fiona Tomley, 2023/24 Plowright Prize winner
Internationally renowned for her work on Eimeria species that cause coccidiosis in chickens, Professor Fiona Tomley CBE, PhD, DVM (Honorary) was awarded the 2023/2024 Plowright Prize for her work reducing infectious diseases in poultry. Over her 40-year career, she has conducted research into basic science discovery, technological advances, industrial collaboration, international research leadership, and knowledge exchange.
She will use the £100,000 prize fund to establish a global mentoring network for veterinary infectious disease researchers with a focus on ‘One Health’ – the integrated approach to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. Read more about Fiona Tomley’s career and use of the prize fund.
It is a huge honour to receive the Plowright Prize and I am delighted that my work, and that of my colleagues and collaborators, has been recognised by the judging panel. Taking a One Health approach is a team effort, requiring researchers to communicate across disciplines, translate basic science to useful outcomes, advocate for science at its interface with policy, and collaborate with researchers from different geographical settings. As we enter the final phase of the One Health Poultry Hub, I’d particularly like to thank everyone who has participated, including the 55 investigators and 100 researchers from 27 institutions – many of them in South Asia – working as part of the Hub.”
Professor Fiona Tomley
Dr Herman Barkema, 2021/22 Plowright Prize winner
Professor in Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases from the University of Calgary, Herman was awarded the Plowright Prize for his research on Mastitis, Johne’s disease and antimicrobial resistance. The prize money boosted the ongoing Cattle Health Surveillance System (CHeSS) project, which focuses on monitoring and controlling major infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance in dairy cattle in Western Canada.
I was honoured to receive this prestigious award. It is not only recognition for myself, but for all of the dedicated people I work with. I am fortunate to work with a large interdisciplinary and collaborative research team. Thank you very much to RCVS Knowledge for this award.”
Dr Herman Barkema
Professor William Ivan Morrison, 2019/20 Plowright Prize winner
University of Edinburgh professor, William Ivan Morrison, was the first recipient of the Plowright Prize for his work modifying the phenotype of T. parva-infected cells to render them capable of fusion to other bovine cells. He used the prize fund to continue this research which aims to create a cost-effective vaccine for the cattle disease East Coast Fever.
Enquiries
Please direct all enquiries regarding the prize to: ebvm@rcvsknowledge.org or by phone: +44 (0) 20 7202 0721